LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR

Feb. 26,1640, Left by Henry Hilton, of Hilton, Esq. for 99 years, £6, reduced by the Interest Act to

4

0

0

Nov. 16, 1648, Left by Andrew Aldworth, physician, paid on St. Andrew's day out of a house in Oakwellgate,

1

0

0

April 11, 1660, Left by William Carr, Esq. to be paid on St. Eleanor's day and St. Martin's day, out of a house in the Bigg Market,£1, 6s. 8d.; out of a house in Gunner-ward, 13s. 4d.

2

0

0

Nov. 25, 1675, Left by Thomas Davison, Esq. yearly, to be paid in December as follows, viz. out of a house at the Foot of the Side, £1, 3s.; out of a house near the Sandhill corner, 7s.; out of a house on the Sandhill, 9s. 6d.; out of a house on the Long Stairs, 4s.

2

3

6

May 16, 1680, Left by Sir Wm. Blackett, Bart. paid in December out of a house at the Bridge End

2

0

0

Left by Robert Ellison, £33, 6s. 8d. the interest to be paid yearly by the vicar and churchwardens. (This was lent to John Bourne on his own bond, who failing, both principal and interest was lost. The last interest was paid in 1708.)

Left by John Jefferson to be paid yearly in March,

1

0

0

Left by Timothy Davison, to be paid yearly in December from the Merchants' Company,

1

5

0

Paid Half-yearly at Lady-day and Michaclmas.

£.

s.

d.

£.

s.

d.

Left by Sir Alexander Davison,

2

0

0

Left by Mark Milbank, Esq.

3

0

0

—Sir Thomas Davison

1

0

0

—John Rumney, Esq.

2

10

0

—William Carr, Esq.

1

10

0

—Sir Mark Milbank,

6

0

0

£.

s.

d.

Left by Nicholas Ridley, Esq. yearly to be paid in December out of ground in Heaton,

1

10

0

Left by Matthew White, Esq. yearly to be paid in December out of a house in Pilgrim Street,

1

10

0

Left by Leonard Weatherly, Gent. £20, the interest to be paid yearly on September 11,

1

0

0

Left by Richard Randell, the sum of £ 7,

0

7

0

Left by Mrs. Margaret Ramsay, £20, the interest to be yearly distributed for ever,

1

0

0

The following are paid yearly at the Town's Chamber:—

Left by Joseph Atkinson, £50, the interest to be distributed on September 30,

2

10

0

Left by Isabel, wife of William Wrightson, Esq. £50, the interest to be paid yearly September 30,

2

10

0

Left by Mrs. Ann Davison, £200, the interest of which to be distributed at two doles, £5 each, viz. on St. Thomas' eve, and on the 7th of February,

10

0

0

Left by William Harrison, £50, the interest to be paid yearly on St. Andrew's day,

2

10

0

Left by James Coward, £20, the interest to be yearly distributed for ever,

1

0

0

Left by George Mallabar, Esq. £50, at 4 per cent, the interest to be yearly distributed for ever,

0

16

0

Left by Dame Jane Clavering, £50, at 4 per cent. the interest to be yearly distributed for ever,

2

0

0

Left by Anthony Proctor and Mrs. Jane Brookbank, each the sum of £50, at 4 per cent. per ann. (fn. 1)

4

0

0

Account of Leases belonging to St. Nicholas' Church.

A lease granted to William Lamb, March 8, 1704, of a parcel of ground for 21 years, paying 5s. per annum
at two payments, viz. May-day and Martinmas.

A lease granted to Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson, March 1, 1758, of her house, paying 20s. per annum at two
payments, May-day and Martinmas, for 21 years. Fine £3.

A lease granted to Mr. Timothy Forster of a messuage for 21 years, March 25, 1751, paying 6s. 8d. per
annum at two payments, viz. Lady-day and Michaelmas. Fine £5.

A lease granted to Matthew Hills of his houses, May 18, 1756, for 21 years, at 15s. per annum, payable at
two payments, viz. Candlemas and Lammas. Fine £4.

A lease granted to James Hauxley of a messuage in the Church-yard, August 1, 1755, for 21 years, at 12s.
per annum, payable at two payments, viz. Candlemas and Lammas. Fine £4.

A lease granted to William Bonner, Esq. of Housen, on February 24, 1753, for 21 years, at 20s. per annum,
at two payments, viz. Candlemas and Lammas. Fine £6.

A lease granted to Charles King, of Housen and Garden Platt, March 21, 1759, for 21 years, paying £1,
8s. 2d. at two payments, viz. May-day and Martinmas. Fine £11.

A lease granted to Thomas Mather of a house and yard, for 21 years, March 25, 1751, paying 5s. per annum
at two payments, viz. Lady-day and Michaelmas. Fine £1.

A lease granted to William Addison of a house in the Church-yard, May 1, 1759, for 21 years, paying 12s.
per annum at two payments, viz. Martinmas and Whitsuntide. Fine £5.

A lease granted to Robert Gibson of his back-yard, stables, and lofts, January 8, 1727, for 21 years, paying
2s. at Martinmas. Fine 8s.

A lease granted to John Wright of his house in the Church-yard, November 24, 1756, for 21 years, paying
8s. per annum at two payments, viz. Lady-day and Martinmas. Fine £5.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR

OF THE PARISH OF ALL SAINTS.

Legacies collected at Easter.

Rental of the money bequeathed December 22, 1585, by Mr. Thomas Smith, shipwright, to the poor of
the parish of All Saints, and by writing indented, November 7, 1643, by William Swaddell and Elinor his
wife, cousin and heirs of the said Thomas, accordingly confirmed:—Inprimis, An ann. rt. of 20s. payable at
Whitsuntide & Martinmas of a tenement at the foot of Plumber Chare. Item, An ann. rt. of 23s. 4d. of a
tenement situate at the foot of All Hallow Bank. Item, An ann. rt. of 16s. payable at Whitsuntide and
Martinmas of a tenement situate in Sandgate on the south side of the fore street and is and was known by
the name of the black beire. Item, An ann. rt. of 3s. 4d. payable at Martinmas of a tenement in Sandgate
in a Chare called Maughan's Chare also Erringtons Chare. Item, An ann. rt. of 10s. payable at Martinmas
of a tenement situated in Sandgate in the fore street. Item, An ann. rt. of 5s. 6d. payable at Whitsuntide and
Martinmas of a tenement situated in Sandgate upon the Key. Item, An ann. rt. of 10s. payable forth of a
tenement upon or near the Keyside in Sandgate. Item, An ann. rt. of 4s. payable at Whitsuntide and
Martinmas of a tenement on the north side of the fore street in Sandgate. Item, An ann. rt. of 6s. 8d.
payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas of a tenement situated in Sandgate. Amounting in all to £4, 18s.
10d. per annum.

Money bequeathed by Leonard Carr, merchant and alderman, deed, by his last will and testament bearing
date July 26, 1658, to the poore of the parish of All Saints, to be distributed amongst them at the discretion
of the church-wardens and overseers of the same parish for ever:—Inprimis, An ann. rt. of 50s. payable at
Whitsuntide and Martinmas for ever forth and out of the capital messuage and dwelling house of the said
Leonard Carr situate near the foot of All Hallow Bank in Newcastle upon Tyne. Item, An ann. rt. of 10s.
payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas for ever out of a tenement situate in All Hallow Bank. Item, An
ann. rt. of 10s. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas for ever out of a tenement in All Hallow Bank
situate between the two preceding tenements. Item, An ann. rt. of 20s. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas for ever out of a tenement in All Hallow Bank. Item, An ann. rt. of 10s. payable at Whitsuntide
and Martinmas for ever out of a tenement in All Hallow Bank adjoining the dwelling house of the said
Leonard Carr. Amounting in all to £5.

Aug. 22, 1736, Cuthbert Woodman weaver bequeathed 12s. yearly payable Aug. 22 out of his messuage
situate on the west side of Pilgrim Street opposite to the Taylors Hall with power to destrain.

April 11, 1660, William Carr, Esq. out of a messuage situate in Pilgrim Street near Pilgrim Street Gate
on the east side 10s. payable at Easter. A messuage situate near Pandon Gate 8s. payable at Easter.

July 17, 1661, John Cosyns draper gave to the poor of this parish the sum of 2s. per week which is £5, 4s.
per annum for ever which is to be distributed in bread weekly by Mr. Vicar or Ministers and Churchwardens
of All Saints parish to such poor people of the said parish as shall come to hear the public ordinances of God,
every Lord's Day after the end of the forenoon service which he charged upon the messuage named the
Fleece Tavern situate by the Key, payable June 1st.

March 23, 1673, David Sheavil barber surgeon left £4 payable 1st of April, viz. out of two messuges
situate in Pilgrim Street £2, 10s. A messuge situate in Silver Street 10s. A messuge and shop situate
by the Quay at Trinity Chare £1.

Legacies collected at Christmas.

Nov. 16, 1648, Andrew Aldworth left £1 per annum out of messuages in Okewell in Gateshead payable
on St. Andrew's Day with a power of distress in case of non-payment.

March 9, 1679, Sir William Blackett out of his messuge situate at Tyne Bridge £2 payable Dec. 1st.

May 29, 1690, John Collier shipright by his will gave to the poor of All Saints £50 to purchase the rent
per annum of £3 payable at Christmas this money was paid May 31, 1692 to John Vaughan who granted
an annuity for ever out of premises in Gullow Raw Green otherwise Love Lane now in the possession of
Joseph Pollard Esq.

May 12, 1693, Richard Hutchinson rope maker by his will charged his premises on the Sandhill with
payment of £5 yearly payable on Christmas Day.

1695, George Collingwood house carpenter who died Decr. 23, 1698 out of his messuge in Pilgrim St.
gave the minister and churchwardens of All Saints £2 payable at Martinmas to be by them equally distributed yearly to two poor widows of the same parish, who should have it only once.

Feb. 7, 1694, Mr. Timothy Davison merchant by his will gave to the credible freemen or freemens widows
(not of the Merchants Company) fallen into decay in the parish of All Saints the sum of £1, 10s. per annum
for ever whose names should be returned needful by the minister and churchwardens respectively such distribution to be made at the discretion of the governor assistants and wardens for the time being of the Merchants Company and distributed in the month of Decr. (Now only £1 payable by the Merchants Company.)

Jan. 21, 1710, Nicholas Ridley merchant by his will gave to the poor of this parish the sum of £1 per
annum for ever with which he charged his lands at Heaton, to be distributed yearly 8 days before Christmas
to the most aged most decrepid and necessitous of the parish by the two old church wardens.

March 11, 1711, Robt. Fenwick merchant by his will gave to the poor of All Saints parish the sum of
£4 per annum charged on his messuge in the Bigg Market called the Angel Inn payable Decr. 24.

May 26, 1707, Henry Holme Esq. gave to the poor of All Saints parish the sum of £6 per annum to be
paid in two several payments viz. £3 on the Monday after Christmas Day and £3 on the Monday after
Easter Day this legacy is now reduced to £4 on bond from the corporation.

June 5, 1711, John Bee master mariner gave to 12 poor widows of All Saints £6 per annum payable at
Christmas out of his two messuges and shop situate by the Quay, to be distributed by the minister at Christmas.

Oct. 1, 1716, Matthew White merchant adventurer and alderman by his will charged (for the poor of All
Saints) his freehold messuge burgage or tenement in Pilgrim Street with £1, 10s. payable at Christmas, and
to be distributed every Christmas Day or the day after to and among 10 poor house keepers in the said parish
the churchwardens returning the names of them yearly to his son Matthew White or his heirs.

Sept. 20, 1779, Thomas Lemon gent. gave by his will £3 a year for ever to the poor of All Saints payable
at Lady Day and Michaelmass.

Legacies paid at the Town Chamber.

£.

Henry Holme, Esq. by his will, May 26, 1707,

100

Mrs. Isabel Wrightson, by a deed, Feb. 1, 1700,

50

Mr. William Harrison, hoastman,

150

Mrs. Margaret Ramsay,

20

Mr. Edward Potts, shipwright,

20

Mr. Rt. Forster, merchant, by will, May 3, 1708,

50

Mr. George Mallabar, died Aug. 20, 1734,

50

Lady Jane Clavering, died Dec. 11, 1734,

50

Mrs. Ann Handcock,

50

Mr. John Scaife, slater, died Aug. 26, 1763,

20

Miss Mary Buck, Silver Street,

100

660

The interest of which, at 4 per cent. amounting to £26, 8s. is paid at Whitsuntide and Martinmas.

Legacies left payable out of the Town's Chamber, received at Martinmas and Lady Day, by the Churchwardens of St. Nicholas, and paid by them to the Churchwardens of All Saints.

"A Rental of all and every the Rents due and payable to the Church of All Saints, in Newcastle upon
Tyne, as for the present they can be found out and made apparent, with the particular Houses, and their
Situation, as near as the present Churchwardens can find out, A. D. 1645."

Inprimis, A yearly rent of 2s. payable at Whitsunday and Martinmass issuing forth of a tenement now in
the possession of George Chambers situate in Pilgrim St. and adjoining on the south side of a lane called
Silver Street. (Bequeathed by Cuthbert Pattison, July 15, 1585, and now payable out of the front house of
Bell's Court, Pilgrim Street.) Item, A yearly rent of 23s. payable at Whitsunday and Martinmas forth of a
tenement and parcell of waste ground whereupon is now a house and is reserved upon a lease dated May 28,
1583 made from the then churchwardens to Robert Reisley from Pentecost then before, situate at the foot of
Pilgrim St. adjoining eastward upon the churchyard and now in the possession of Wm. Carr merchant.—
Item, A yearly rent of 23s. 4d. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of a tenement adjoining upon
the north side of the church yard west stile reserved on a lease dated 20th March 1630 from the churchwardens to Richd. Armstrong for 21 years from the date thereof, now in the possession of one William Wes
ton. Item, One rent of 13s. 8d. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of a tenement opposite to the
church yard west stile now in the possession of Robt. Preston, which house by indenture dated Ap. 25 in the
36th of King Henry VIII. was granted to Edwd. Clarke plumber in fee farm. Item, One rent of 14s.
payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of certain tenements at the head of the Broad Chare near the
pant of which tenements Mr. Ralph Fowler has bought part and payeth 5s. Item, A yearly rent of 6d.
payable at Whitsuntide forth of a tenement in the possession of Thomas Jolly. Item, A yearly rent of 10s.
payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of a tenement at the Keyside in the possession of John Bootie.
Item, A yearly rent of 3s. 4d. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of a tenement in the possession
of John Jackson, in or at the head of a Chare called Govis Chare also Rhods Chare about the middle of All
Hallows Bank. Item, A yearly rent of 2s. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of a tenement
toward the east side of Sandgate on the south side of the fore street on the east side of a common chare
leading to the Key which was heretofore in the possession of Ann Brantingham. Item, A yearly rent of
7s. 4d. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas forth of a tenement in Pandon at the head of Byker Chare
late in the possession of Francis Davidson. Item, A yearly rent of 9s. payable at Whitsuntide & Martinmas
forth of a tenement belonging to the heirs of Alexr. Davison Knt. deceased situated at the foot of Pilgraham
Street opposite to the church yard west stile, now in the possession of Mr. Thomas Davison of Blackston.
Item, A yearly rent of 7s. payable at Easter reserved upon a lease dated April 27th 1622 from the church
wardens to Robt. Hope of a parcell of waste ground heretofore used as garden plot for 99 years, on which
there is now tenements in the possession of the heirs of the said Robert. Item, A yearly rent of 5s. payable
by Phineas Allen for his way-leave from his house into his church yard at the east end thereof payable at
Easter.

The following have been added at subsequent periods:— Item, A yearly rent of 6s. 8d. payable at Whitsuntide and Martinmas reserved on a lease dated Dec. 20, 1658 to Richard Handcocke Taylor of a parcell of
ground being part of the church yard before the south side of the church near the South Stairs leading from
the church great door upon which the said Rd. hath built one pair of new stairs for 21 years. Item, A
yearly rent of 5 pounds issuing out of the dwelling house of Mr. John Gastell left to the church towards
repairs by Mr. John Cosen draper July 17th 1661. Item, A yearly rent of 6s. for window light to warehouses at east end of church yard.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR

OF ST. ANDREW'S PARISH..

Dec. 17, 1648, Left by Dr. Aldworth out of land in Oakwellgate, Gateshead, £1.

Left by Thomas Davidson, to be paid yearly by the Merchants' Company, £1; and another legacy out of
three tenements of 3s. each.

Left by Timothy Davison, to be paid yearly at Christmas to 15 poor freemen or widows, not merchants,
by the Merchants' Company, £1.

Left by Sir Mark Milbank, to be paid yearly, £1.

Left by Robert Anderson, £5.

Left by Richard Gibson, who died in 1718, the sum of £30, the interest to be distributed on Christmas
day yearly.

The following to be paid Yearly at the Town's Chamber:—

Left by Sir Alexander Davison, to be paid on Lady Day, £2.

Aug. 20, 1734, Left by George Mallabar, £50, the interest to be paid on Christmas day.

Dec. 11, 1734, Left by Dame Jane Clavering, by will, £50, the interest to be distributed yearly.

March 13, 1716, Left by Mrs. Isabel Wrightson, £50, the interest to be paid on St. Andrew's day.

Left by John Rumney, Esq. who died Feb. 3, 1694, £260, a fifth part of the interest of which to be
given to the poor of this parish.

July 10, 1721, Left by William Harrison, hoastman, £50, the interest to be paid yearly on St. Andrew's day.

Paid out of the town, according to Bourne, at two payments, the sum of £4.

Sir Wm. Blackett, Bart. who died May 16, 1680, bequeathed to the poor of this parish 40s. yearly for ever. (fn. 3)

Sir Wm. Blackett, Bart. who died Dec. 2, 1705, in his life-time gave an out-rent of 13s. 4d. to the church
of St. Andrew's, and also a close of £3 a year; and by his last will gave £1000 to purchase an estate for the
use of this parish for ever. This legacy (see page 449) was never paid; but his heirs pay one-third of the
interest, at 6 per cent. to poor householders, and the other two-thirds to the support of the charity-school. (fn. 4)

John Scafe, slater, left £20, the interest to be given to the poor of St. Andrew's. Sir Thomas Davison,
Margaret Allgood, and Nic. Ridley, Esq. left each £1 per annum to the poor; Matthew White, Esq. and
Marg. Ramsay, each £2; Mary Johnson 4s. yearly to two poor widows; and Mary Mitchell 16s. annually. (fn. 5)

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR Of St. John's Parish.

The Interest of the following Legacies is received Half-yearly at the Town's Chamber:—

£

Left by Isabel, wife of William Wrightson, Esq.

50

Left by Mr. William Harrison,

50

Left by George Mallabar, Esq.

50

Left by Lady Jane Clavering,

50

Left by Anthony Proctor, Esq.

50

Left by Mrs. Margaret Ramsay,

20

Left by Mr. Thomas Hindmarsh,

20

Of the following Sums, St. Nicholas' gets £16, All Saints' £16, St. Andrew's £10, and St. John's £10,
which is received of the Corporation Half-yearly.

£.

Sir Alexander Davison,

8

Sir Thomas Davison,

4

Mr. William Carr,

6

Sir Mark Milbank,

12

Sir Mark Milbank,

12

Mr. John Rumney,

10

£.

s.

d.

Left by Mrs. Margaret Peirson, out of a house in the Back Row,

3

0

0

Left by Dr. Aldworth, out of lands in Oakwellgate, received on St. Andrew's day of Mr. Harvey,

1

0

0

Left by Nicholas Ridley, out of lands at Heaton,

1

0

0

Left by Matthew White, Esq. out of Lacy's House in Pilgrim Street,

1

0

0

Left by Mr. Thomas Davison,

1

6

8

Left by Mr. Timothy Davison, received of the Merchants' Company in December yearly,

1

5

0

Left by Sir William Blackett, Bart. out of Hume's house in the Close, to be distributed by the minister and churchwardens on December 1, for ever,

2

0

0

Left by Mrs. Johnson, in the hands of the corporation, £5, the interest to be distributed by the minister at Christmas yearly,

0

4

0

Out-rents due at Easter.

s.

d.

Thos. Holmes' house in Rosemary Lane (on lease from the church) now Dr. John Rotheram's,

14

0

Rev. George Carr's house in church-yard, now Mrs. Brunton's,

10

0

The Dove-cote Close near the Forth,

6

8

Mr. Peter Pott's pew, now Mrs. Smith's,

1

0

Thomas Gaston's house in Pilgrim Street, now Mr. Graham's,

6

8

Nicholas Dent's house in the Groat Market, now Mr. Widdrington's,

3

0

Widow Armstrong's house in Fenkle Street,

1

0

Romaine's house without Westgate,

1

0

Edward Bulmer's house without Westgate, now Richard Chambers',

1

0

Widow Robson's house near Westgate,

1

0

David Finlay's house in Fenkle Street,

1

0

The following Out-rents were left to St. John's Church by Mr. Wm. Carr, and are due Yearly at Martinmas.

s.

d.

William Lowes, Esq.'s house in Westgate Street,

2

8

William Wilson, Esq.'s house in Westgate Street,

2

8

Edward Gill's house in Ratton Row, now William Minecan's,

7

0

John Thompson's house in Scale Cross, now Michael Elliott's,

10

0

No attention was paid to the preservation of the parochial records of this town, until the act of parliament
passed, which compelled every parish to provide an iron chest for their safe keeping. Many charitable legacies
have been lost through neglect by all the parishes. All the premises in Rosemary Lane, bequeathed for the support of Ponteland school in 1780, were once part of St. John's church-yard. The premises extending from the
shop of Mr. John Marshall, bookseller, Old Flesh Market, to the inn occupied by Mr. Lancelot Blyth, at the
foot of the New Market, and known by the name of the Ship Entry, were left to the poor communicants of St.
Nicholas' church by William Moulton, breeches-maker, near the Black Gate; but Mr. James Pollard, of the
Leazes, late flax-dresser, is now "in possession of the whole of the effects, which he converts to his own use.
He refuses to appoint four more trustees, as was appointed by the will, on the death of part of the old ones."
The clear annual rents of the premises, in 1787, were returned at £75 per annum. John Pigg, by will, dated
October 27, 1688, bequeathed three dwelling-houses and the appurtenances, situate in Pilgrim Street, nearly
opposite to Major Anderson's gates, with his estates in Northumberland and Durham, to Robert Bewick, of Close
House, in Northumberland, Esq.; Matthew Sadler, of the same county, Gent.; John Rochester, of Gateshead,
in the county of Durham, boat-builder; Lancelot Cramlington, of the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Gent.; and to William Hutchinson, Phineas Allen, and Mathias Partis, of the same place, merchants, in
trust for charitable purposes. Mr. Pigg, in his will, states, that the poor people on whom this charity is
bestowed shall "be only such as fear God, and are of the Protestant religion, and have not cast themselves
into poverty by their idleness, nor reduced themselves to beggary by their own riotous prodigality, but are
by age or sickness or decrepitude disabled from work, or where men have children too numerous for their
work to maintain; for I have always observed if men will not be idle they need not want." In the Parochial
Returns of Charitable Donations, made to parliament in 1787–8, it is said, John Pigg "left the produce of his
real and personal estates (excepting £5 per annum to the minister of Earsdon, and £5 per annum to the
overseers of the highways for the county of Northumberland, and such sum or sums of money to his niece
Ann Rea, as his trustees should think proper) to such poor in the counties of Durham, Northumberland, and
Newcastle upon Tyne, and in such proportions, as the trustees of his will should think fit. By a decree of
Chancery, part of his lands in Earsdon, and one-third of his personal estate, were awarded to Ann Rea, and
the remainder to the uses of his will. The estates are, by the best information, worth £130 per ann. in the
possession of William and Henry Cramlington; but the parish of St. Andrew have never received any benefit
from this donation. The two-thirds of the personal estate (£500) being £333, 6s. 8d. were never accounted for."

This John Pigg, town's surveyor for Newcastle, "was well known both to king Charles II. and the Duke
of York; and, for his giddy singularities, noted not only through the country, but almost through the kingdom. He usually wore a high-crowned hat, a strait coat, and would never ride, but walked the pace of any
horse hundreds of miles on foot, with a quarter-staff, fenced with an iron fork at one end. The king and
Duke of York, to whom he was often trotting, made themselves sport with him, as looking upon him to be a
brainsick enthusiast. He was of so peculiar and odd a humour, that he would not only go to prison when he
needed not, but conceitedly chose the vilest part of the prison for his apartment, where he continued a long
while, when he might have had his liberty whenever he pleased. This Pigg died in a stye, in circumstances
not unlike those who lay hands on themselves, or die crazy or distracted. He took down a stately cross,
which he called Idolatry, that stood at the north end of the Barras Bridge, before the chapel of St. James,
and built a curious stone pillar, inscribed with texts of scripture, still standing at the Three-mile Bridge, by
the side of the Morpeth road, as a monument of his whimsical head, and which very deservedly to this day
bears the name of 'Pigg's Folly.'" This account of honest Pigg is evidently exaggerated. Being a Puritan was sufficient to entitle him to the scoffs of the profane, and the hatred of bigots of a different class.
The above extract from his will shews that he was not deficient in discernment and good sense; and his
choice of executors implies that his connexions were respectable. Bourne says that the cross which he took;
down at the Barras Bridge "was broke by some who hated it should be profaned;" but it is probably the
very same cross which he set up at the Three-mile Bridge, after cutting upon it some instructive scraps of
holy writ. He was evidently an eccentric man; but his charitable bequests ought to have procured more,
indulgence for his memory.

Footnotes

1. William Grey, of Backworth, Esq. by will, dated May 26, 1714, in case of failure of issue of his own body, charged his estates
with the payment of L 100 to the church of St. Nicholas, the interest to be given to the poor yearly. Elizabeth Rogers, by will, dated
December 15, 1733, gave L 50 to the poor of this parish, the interest to be paid yearly on the day of her death. Mrs. Timothea Davison, who died June 4, 1757, gave L 20 to the poor of this parish, to be distributed immediately after her death. William Moulton,
of Newcastle, skinner and glover, by will, dated February 26, 1776, charged an annuity of L 15 on houses in the Ship Entry, Old Flesh
Market, for the poor of this parish; but a flaw being discovered in the will, Mr. Moulton's pious intentions were not fulfilled.

2. Robert Anderson gave to the poor of this parish L5, which has not been paid since 1651, nor can the property charged be found.
William Hilton, Esq. of Hilton Castle, gave L6; but this charity was demolished by act of parliament in 1739. William Carr left
3s. 6d. annually, charged on a messuage in Sandgate, and another in Silver Street; but these, in 1713, could not be found. William
Gibson, merchant, on October 26, 1662, left L1 annually out of a messuage in Cowgate, which seems to have been lost by neglect.
Ephraim Cooper, in 1709, left 10s. yearly, charged on his messuage in the Broad Garth; but there is no record of this legacy having
ever been paid.

3. This Sir W. Blackett's legacy is payable out of the premises situated at the north-west corner of Tyne Bridge, and which at present
belong to Mr. James Hume. They are occupied by Mr. John Armstrong, Mr. Joseph Oswald, Mr. John Dixon, Mr. Downing, and
others: being bounded by the north end of Tyne Bridge on the east, by the Tyne on the south, by premises belonging to Mr. Thomas
Glaholm on the west, and by the Close on the north.

4. The house of the "Barons of Hilton," after flourishing through twenty successive generations, "was nearly ruined by the improvident posthumous generosity of Henry Hilton, Esq. who appears to have been so much under the influence of vanity and melancholy as
might, in these days of equity, have occasioned serious doubts as to the sanity of his disposing mind." He alienated the great manor of
Alston Moor, left his heir only L 100 per annum, and all the rest of his property for charitable purposes, including a bequest of L 24 yearly
to 38 parishes, for the period of 99 years. But the rents becoming unequal to the payment of these legacies, the several parishes, in
1662, agreed to accept two-thirds of the sum bequeathed, which seems to have been sanctioned by act of parliament. Thus were the
payments to the poor in Newcastle reduced, in each parish, from L 6 to L 4, and not by the " Interest Act," as Mr. Brand supposed,
and as is said at page 532. This charity ceased in 1739, being the termination of 99 years, and was not "demolished by act of parliament," as is stated in note page 535, an error inadvertently copied from Sopwith's History of All Saints' Church.--- See Surtees' Durham, vol. ii. page 21.

5. In 1592, Christopher Chater, of Butterby, near Durham, gave, by will, 40s. to the poor of St. Andrew's, which was his native parish. William Carr left a rent-charge of 8s. to be distributed amongst poor householders. Elizabeth Rogers, in 1733, left L 3000 to
the poor; but her will, as far as relates to this legacy, was set aside by decree in Chancery, which was confirmed by the House of Lords.

6. These premises extend from Percy Street to the Blind Man's Lane. The houses, yards, and garden, contain 1 acre, 1 rood, and
11½ poles. It was granted to the minister and churchwardens of this parish by Sir William Blackett, Bart, on lease for 1000 years,
commencing in 1702.